If everyone who could got the flu vaccine each year;
- Around half to two-thirds of healthy vaccinated adults aged under 65 years of age will be protected against getting the flu
- Almost two-thirds of vaccinated adults who get flu will be protected from needing hospital care
- Up to two-thirds of children who receive the vaccine will be protected from getting sick with flu
- About half to two-thirds of the immunised children aged 6 months – 17 years will be protected from needing hospital care for flu.
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STOP PRESS: Funding now available for health and disability providers
The Ministry of Health recently approved funding to reimburse non-DHB health and disability providers for the cost of vaccinating their patient- and client-facing staff against influenza.
Self-employed lead maternity carers and carers employed under individualised funding arrangements will also qualify for flu vaccination reimbursements.
The reimbursement scheme will be available from 1 May 2022 to 30 September 2022. An online portal to make reimbursement claims will soon be available via the Ministry’s website.
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Dodge the twindemic this winter!
While case numbers and hospitalisations due to COVID-19 are dropping, there is no expectation that the virus will disappear altogether any time soon, so remaining vigilant and ensuring that if you can be vaccinated, you do so will be key to keeping it under control.
It is doubly important as our borders open that we have the very best defence against viruses such as flu and measles, as well as COVID-19, so it is safe receive these vaccinations at the same time as your COVID-19 jab.
The possibility of a COVID-19 and Influenza 'twindemic' this winter is high, so take action now to keep you, your whānau and your community protected and well during the colder months to come.
For more information about the COVID-19 virus, the vaccine, regular and pop-up clinics, please go to TDHB - COVID-19 vaccine
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Pfizer vaccine safety report released
An interim report has been published by the COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board stating the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 'very safe'.
The Board reviewed safety data collected between February and November last year to reach the conclusion, with just one of the 18 safety signals for the vaccine being confirmed (the identification of myocarditis and pericarditis as very rare adverse reactions to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine).
More than 7 million doses were administered during this time. Almost 90% of the eligible population (12 years and older) received two doses of the vaccine, and 39,973 adverse events following immunisation were reported. Of these, 1,593 serious cases were reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) and the Board investigated 508 serious cases and considered 18 safety signals (information on a new or known adverse event that may be caused by the vaccine and requires further investigation) which led to 28 recommendations to either Medsafe or the Ministry of Health.
There have been two deaths likely associated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The coroner is still investigating these deaths.
Other safety signals reviewed included: anaphylaxis, thrombosis, stroke, menstrual disorder, herpes zoster and tinnitus, and monitoring will continue of these.
The Board also reviewed the available safety data around the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy, with no concerns identified.
The overall reporting rate in New Zealand across all population groups is 5.6 Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) per 1000 vaccinations (0.56%) which is consistent with New Zealand’s good reporting culture for adverse drug reactions/events. In comparison, the reporting rate for the COVID-19 vaccines in Australia is 2.1 AEFI per 1000 vaccinations and the United Kingdom is 2 to 5 AEFI per 1000 vaccinations.
The Board continues to closely monitor the safety data of the Pfizer vaccine in children. Available data for children aged 12 years and older was reviewed in September and December 2021 and no concerns were identified. Vaccine use in children will be a key focus area for 2022, along with vaccination in pregnancy.
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Got FOMO?
If you are between aged 15 -30, you may have missed out on getting your measles vaccination when you were young - but it's ok because you can have it now!
The Measles vaccination, which also protects you from mumps and rubella will be available at all Taranaki DHB Covid-19 clinics from now on – all you have to do is ask for it. and you can have it at the same time as your COVID-19 shot.
If you are unsure if you received the MMR vaccination when you were a child, contact your GP or Health provider, or check your Plunket Well Child book if you still have it. It doesn’t matter if you can’t confirm one way or the other, it is perfectly safe to have it again.
We do not currently have measles in New Zealand, but with the borders re-opening, it is highly likely an overseas visitor will unknowingly carry the virus in a pass it on. Measles is a serious disease (see below) so it is important that everyone is vaccinated to prevent a major outbreak.
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Measles, Mumps and Rubella
There is a misconception that these are relatively minor childhood diseases but this is not the case – a four-month outbreak of measles in Samoa in 2019 due to very low vaccination rates saw more than 5,700 cases and 83 deaths – all but seven of these were children aged under 15.
Measles is an extremely contagious (more transmissible than Omicron) disease. Around 1 in 10 people who catch it will need hospital care. It holds higher risks for children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
Mumps and Rubella can also cause long-term health issues, such as infertility in men, and can damage a developing foetus, causing significant and lifelong disabilities.
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Give your child the ability to fight back
Immunisation helps our children avoid many diseases that can seriously harm them. When a child is immunised the vaccines teach their immune system to respond to parts of germs that aren’t dangerous, or to weakened or inactive viruses that can’t cause disease. After immunisation, the immune system can generate specialised cells to fight the infection if they are exposed to the disease, preventing them from getting sick.
Some parents focus more on the (rare) side effects of immunisation than on the diseases that immunisation protects against. The risk of serious side effects from immunisation is very low compared to the risk of complications or death should a child contract one of the vaccine-preventable diseases.
Immunisation is an important way to actively protect your child - find out more here TDHB - Immunisation
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To find out where you can have your vaccinations in your local community, visit Taranaki • Healthpoint for a full list of providers
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